Spring assembly for saddles



June 30, 1942. H. E. KALTER SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR SADDLES Filed July 4, 1939 4 g g IgVENTOR.

His-ATTORNEY.

Patented June 30, 1942 TENT OFFICE SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR SADDLES Harold E. ,Kalter, Elyria,

Troxel Manufacturing a corporation of Ohio Application July 4, 1939, Serial No. 282,798

8 Claims.

. My invention relates to saddles adapted for use on bicycles and tricycles. and relates more particularly to an improved spring assembly for use with the same.

An object of my invention is to provide such an improved spring assembly for cycle saddles which will be inexpensive to manufacture, simple in assembly and durable in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved spring assembly for cycle saddles which will employ relatively few parts and those parts being capable of being inexpensively fabricated.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved spring assembly for cycle saddles which may be easily assembled or disassembled, but which when assembled Will have all of its parts so secured that they will not be accidentally displaced.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become apparent by reference to the drawing and specification made a part hereof. Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section of the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the bottom of Fig. 1, showing a certain portion broken away in sections;

Fig. 3 is a view taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of an element shown in section in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section showing the method of assembly of the spring and securing element.

Referring now to the drawing in which I have designated like parts by like reference characters, I have shown at l the saddle seat, the construction of which constitutes no essential part of my invention and may according to well known custom comprise a metal plate 2, an inner or bottom cover 3 of leather, cloth or the like, and an outer cover 4 of leather or the like and suitable filling material 5.

The reach member 6, in the form shown herein, comprises a pair of reach bars 1 and 8 formed from sheet metal, the reach bars preferably rearwardly diverging as at 9 and I0, having at their extreme rearward ends trunnions II-Il substantially co-axially disposed, extending outwardly laterally from the reach bars respectively, and preferably formed from separate pieces secured to the reach bars. The trunnions preferably are in the form of bolts which are adapted to be projected through aligned per- Ohio, assignor to The Company, Elyria, Ohio,

forations in the ends of said reach bars 9 and i8 and aligned perforations in the inwardly directed ends I2-l2 of the yoke l3 connecting the said rear ends of the reach bars.

The forward ends of the reach bars I and 8 are connected together by a transverse element It also preferably formed from sheet metal. The tongue l5 of the element i4 is preferably generally T-shaped and is adapted to be projected through a loop it formed by the ends of the front spring I! which preferably has one or more small coils disposed immediately adjacent the pommel end of the saddle. The ends of the cross element of the T are provided with reduced portions [8-48 which are inserted through perforations in the bars I and 8 and riveted over to rigidly clamp the bars between the riveted portionand the shoulders |9I 9 on the element. The element l4 thus rigidly joins the tWo bars 1 and 8, and the front spring assembly [1. The stem of the T form shown generally at E5 is bent into ogee curved formation when viewed from the side, as in Fig. 1.

The reach bars may be assembled with the spring at the rearward ends of the saddle in a manner now to be described, and the reach bars and reach bar assembly and the front spring construction may be of any preferred form as these constitute no essential part of my invention.

The spring assembly of my invention is particularly directed to the assembly of the rear compression springs 28-20 which I have disposed, in the form shown in the drawing herewith, on either side of the divergent ends of the reach bar.

My invention contemplates that these springs be in the form shown open wound substantially helical springs, preferably with convolutions of reduced diameters near their lower ends. These springs are secured to the saddle seat in any preferred manner and in the form shown herein are secured thereto by bolts 2! which are projected downwardly through suitable perforations in the frame and through eyes formed by small upper convolutions of the conical springs 20 and a nut 23 secures the said springs rigidly to the frame.

At its opposite bottom convolutions, the springs 28 are adapted to be attached to the reach bar assembly by means of inverted dome-shaped spring covers 24 24, curved washers 25-25 and bolts IIH which are adapted to be projected through a perforation provided centrally of each of said curved washers 25-25 provided in alignment with the perforations in one of, the side walls of each of the said dome shaped covers, the perforations in each end I2-l2 of the yoke member l3 and the respective diverging ends 9 and I of the reach bar 1. The specific manner contemplated for assembling the springs with the dome shaped covers is shown in Fig. wherein is illustrated the manner in which the spring 20 is turned within the washer 25 and within the dome shaped cover 24. It is to be noted that the lowermost convolution of the spring which terminates in an end 26 is adapted to fit in the groove formed between the curved washer and the wall of the dome shaped cover 24 and to be progressively moved from the position above the bolt as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 to the position between said washer and said wall of the dome which is disposed below the bolt II, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and from there to be moved by rotating either the cover or the springs progressively downwardly within the cover 24, subsequent convolutions of the spring following the same path.

It is to be noted that the washer 25 is both curved to fit the generally cylindrical inner peripheries of each spring convolution, as shown at X, and curved, as shown at Y, to conform to the uppermost and the lowermost portions of each convolution.

t is further to be noted that in assembling the rear springs 20-20 the same are placed within the dome shaped covers 24-24 after the bolts ll-ll and washers 25-25 are loosely secured together, the bolts and washers being tightened to fit the lowermost convolution of the springs and the covers 24-24 then being turned until the lowermost convolution has reached its ultimate position, which in a cover of the shape illustrated, is adjacent the position 21 wherein the diameter of the cover is sharply reduced. Each of the nuts 28 is then tightened and the reach bars, rear spring assembly, and yoke rigidly secured together.

The improved spring assembly of my invention, as described herein, when the springs reach their most downward position within the covers and the nuts 28, are tightened and rigidly secured against movement within the covers and the necessity of any securing means for the ends of the rear springs is eliminated.

The spring and cover may be shipped as a single unit and assembled after its reception by the consignee with the reach bars and its assembly as a unit before shipping, as above described, but the bolts are not projected through a yoke or reach bar assembly but are merely projected through perforations in the covers and the washers and the nut tightened to ensure rigid assembly thereof.

A pair of washers 29-29 are preferably placed between the nuts 28-28 and the ends 9 and H] of the reach bars when the rear springs are assembled therewith.

Although I have shown and described preferred forms of my invention, I contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a cycle saddle, a frame therefor, a reach member supporting the cantle and pommel ends of the saddle frame, a pair of coiled compression springs secured at their upper ends to the underside of the cantle end of the frame in relatively laterally spaced relation to each other, means for supporting the lower end of each said spring by a lateral rear portion of the reach member comprising at each side of the rear portion of said reach member a metal cup, said cup secured to the reach member and having a dome-shaped end wall, the lower end of said spring telescoped downwardly within the cup, spring retaining means disposed within the cup for preventing removal of said spring lower portion from said cup, the tip end of the lowermost convolution of said spring when in its lowermost position resting in a crease provided between the cylindrical wall of said cup and the dome-shaped end wall and being securely retained therein.

2. In a cycle saddle, a frame therefor, a reach member supporting the cantle and pommel ends of the saddle frame, a pair of coiled compression springs secured at their upper ends to the underside of the cantle end of the frame in relatively later-ally spaced relation to each other, means for supporting the lower end of each said spring by a lateral rear portion of the reach member comprising at each side of the rear portion of said reach member a metal cup, said cup secured to the reach member and having a domeshaped end wall, the lower end of said spring telescoped downwardly within the cup, spring retaining means disposed within the cup for preventing removal of said spring lower portion from said cup, said spring retaining means comprising means projected inwardly from a wall of the cup, the tip end of the lowermost convolution of said spring when in its lowermost position resting in a crease provided between the cylindrical wall of said cup and the dome-shaped end wall and being securely retained therein, and certain convolutions of said spring being overlapped by said spring retaining means.

3. In a cycle saddle, a frame therefor, a reach member supporting the cantle and pommel ends of the saddle frame, a pair of coiled compression springs secured at their upper ends to the underside of the cantle end of the frame in relatively laterally spaced relation to each other, a pair of cups secured to rear portions of said reach member in laterally spaced relation, said springs telescoped within said cups, and means secured to and disposed within said cups for retaining each said spring within an associated one of said cups, successive convolutions of said spring being inter-threaded through a passage provided by said retaining means, and a lateral wall of said cup.

4. In a cycle saddle, a frame therefor, a reach member supporting the cantle and pommel ends of the saddle frame, a pair of coiled compression springs secured at their upper ends to the underside of the cantle end of the frame in relatively laterally spaced relation to each other, a pair of cups secured to rear portions of said reach member in laterally spaced relation, said cups each having a dome-shaped end wall, said springs telescoped within and secured to said cups, and means for retaining the lower ends of said springs in telescoped relation each within a different one of said cups, said retaining means securing said cup, said reach member, and at least one convolution of said spring, together, the tip end of the lowermost convolution of said spring when in its lowermost position resting in a crease provided between the cylindrical wall of said cup and the dome-shaped end wall and being securely retained therein.

5. In a cycle saddle, a reach member supporting the cantle and pommel ends of the saddle, a compression spring secured thereto at its upper end, a cover for the bottom end of said spring, retaining means comprising means adapted to be disposed laterally of said cover to provide a passage whereby said spring may be threadingly enaged in said passage and progressively rotated therethrough, and adapted to rigidly secure said cover to said reach member.

6. In a cycle saddle, a frame therefor, a reach member supporting the cantle and pommel ends of the saddle frame, a coiled compression spring secured at its upper ends to the underside of the cantle end of the frame, and means for supporting the lower end of said spring by a lateral rear portion of the reach member comprising a metal cup, said cup secured to the reach member and having a dome-shaped end wall, the lower end of said spring telescoped downwardly within the cup, the tip end of the lowermost convolution of said spring when in its lowermost position resting in a crease provided between the cylindrical wall of said cup and the dome-shaped end wall and being securely retained therein.

7. In a spring assembly for cycle saddles, an open wound substantially helical spring, a substantially cylindrical cover for the bottom convolutions of said spring, retaining means comprising a curved washer and securing means adapted to be projected through said washer and a lateral cylindrical wall of said cover to secure the said washer within the cover, said cover having cylindrical side walls and dome-shaped end wall, the washer adapted to have clamping engagement with said spring about its inner periphery and said spring adapted to be progressively rotated between said washer and the lateral wall of said cover to secure said spring in said cover.

8. In a spring assembly for cycle saddles, an open wound substantially helical spring, a substantially cylindrical cover for the bottom convolutions of said spring, retaining means comprising a curved washer and securing means adapted to be projected through said washer and a lateral cylindrical wall of said cover to secure the said washer within the cover, said cover having cylindrical side walls and dome-shaped end wall the washer adapted to have clamping engagement with said spring about its inner peri hery and said spring adapted to be progressively rotated between said washer and the lateral cylindrical wall of said cover whereby said spring is adapted to have wedging engagement with the lowermost portion of said cover to se cure said spring in said cover, the tip end of the lowermost convolution of said spring when in its lowermost position resting in a crease provided between the cylindrical wall of said cup and the dome-shaped end wall and being securely retained therein.

HAROLD E. KALTER. 

